[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 195 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING EDWARD LONGENECKER ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL CLOUD

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 2021

  Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Edward 
Longenecker and wish him a happy 100th birthday. Mr. Longenecker is a 
WWII veteran that has a steadfast love and devotion to God, his family, 
and country. He is from my hometown of Victoria, Texas. I

[[Page E1204]]

want to thank him for his service in the United States Army Air Corps 
as a Radio Operator and Nose Gunner on the B-24 bomber in the 451st 
Bomb Group, 726th Squadron.
  During WWII on July 14, 1944, he and his fellow airman traveled to 
Petfurdo, Hungary for their 29th combat mission. They expected it to be 
an easy mission but began receiving anti-aircraft fire that took out 
two of the aircraft's engines. From the nose gunner position, he 
received word that they were dropping elevation very quickly. The pilot 
made the call, urging everyone to jump. Mr. Longenecker headed to the 
flight deck to retrieve his parachute. On the flight deck, he saw his 
ball gunner about to jump and gave him a ``good luck'' salute. Then Mr. 
Longenecker jumped.
  Everyone who jumped before him was captured but he landed on top of a 
hill and began taking on heavy fire from Yugoslav soldiers that were 
sympathetic to the Germans. He made his way to a nearby forest line, 
crawled under a briar bush, and stayed under the bush until nightfall. 
The first night he slept near a lake. The second night he stayed in a 
pile of loose hay, where he could hear a group of people playing the 
guitar and singing. To him, this was one of the most beautiful sounds 
he had heard simply because there wasn't a sign of war anywhere. On the 
third day, he ran out of the wood cover and met a young boy. This boy 
took him to a nearby village where he ate, bathed, and rested. Later, 
Mr. Longenecker was taken to a house where an American Lieutenant was 
waiting. Upon his safe arrival, he was informed that he had walked 
through an active minefield, unscathed.
  It is incredible to think of how a life that could have been cut 
short has lasted 100 years. After serving in the military, Ed 
Longenecker became an electrical engineer and lived a long full life, 
married to his wife Marie for 59 years until she passed away in 2006. 
He has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
  Edward Longenecker is a true American hero, and we are indebted to 
him for his great service to our Nation. I am proud to honor him today, 
and I hope he has a wonderful 100th birthday.

                          ____________________